Message control system for a portable device

ABSTRACT

A message control system for a portable device that communicates through a link with a packet switched network. Integrated sensors in the portable device are configured to generate speed data. The system comprises a message manager that logs when and where messages are received, monitors the speed data, and uses the data to determine if an incoming message is authorized. If the message is authorized it is displayed on the portable device, and if it is not authorized the system sends an outgoing message over the network link indicating that the incoming message is not authorized.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/188,856, filed Jul. 22, 2011 entitled: FAILURE DETERMINATION SYSTEM, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/851,488, filed Aug. 5, 2010 entitled: AN APPLICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR MOBILE DEVICES, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,020,028, issued Sep. 13, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/616,650, filed Dec. 27, 2006 entitled APPLICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH CONFIGURABLE SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,793,136, issued Sep. 7, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,049, filed Apr. 24, 2002 and issued Feb. 13, 2007 entitled: METHOD FOR MULTI-TASKING MULTIPLE JAVA VIRTUAL MACHINES IN A SECURE ENVIRONMENT, which are all incorporated by reference in their entirety.

This application incorporates by reference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/841,753, filed Apr. 24, 2001 entitled: OPEN COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR REAL-TIME MULTIPROCESSOR APPLICATIONS, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,033, issued Sep. 30, 2003, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/841,915, filed Apr. 24, 2001 entitled: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMIC CONFIGURATION OF MULTIPROCESSOR SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,146,260, issued Dec. 5, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic. According to the official U.S. Government Website www.distraction.gov, ‘Text and Drive’ behavior was the cause of 16,141 highway deaths from 2001 to 2007 in the United States alone. Additionally, and citing the same source, in 2010, there were over 416,000 non-fatal accidents and over 3,092 people were killed in distracted driving crashes on American roadways.

Effecting real change to this epidemic will need to include a comprehensive understanding of the mobile phone and texting culture. Mobile phones make information accessible anytime and anywhere, and put information at our fingertips. Citing again the official U.S. Government Website www.distraction.gov, in June 2011, more than 196 billion text messages were sent or received in the US, up nearly fifty percent in two years. Today more than sixty-three percent of teens text every day, with some teens texting up to 100 messages a day. More alarming, a 2012 report from the U.S. Center for Disease Control shows 60% of teen drivers are texting while driving. Currently, one in three US adults downloads applications to a cell phone or tablet computer, and application downloading is highest among young adults age 18-29.

There is an opportunity to compliment consumers' appetite for anytime-information to mobile and social networking technology while providing them with an asset that allows them to make safe and productive choices. Large entities like auto makers, smartphone providers and insurance companies are grasping for solutions to the Text and Drive epidemic.

In a discussion of prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,940, the patent describes a system for selectively disabling use of at least selected features of a stand-alone electronic device under a predetermined set of conditions.

The system establishes a state of the set of conditions as being satisfied or unsatisfied, communicates the state to the electronic device, and disables the selected features if the state is satisfied. In one embodiment, the system may be used advantageously to prevent vehicular accidents by at least partially disabling non-emergency use of a wireless telephone in a moving vehicle. In another embodiment, the system may be used to disable features of an electronic device within a predetermined area having a boundary that is independent of a communications network cell. However, the prior art does not address these safety features without disabling important elements of the portable device.

What is needed is a smart message control system and method that manages messages for a portable device without disabling features of the portable device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A message control system and method that does not disable any functionality of the electronic device by managing and controlling messages sent to and from the electronic device by using a message manager that logs when and where messages are received, monitors the speed of the electronic device with an integrated sensor and uses the data to determine if an incoming message is authorized. If the message is authorized it is displayed or otherwise processed on the portable device in the normal manner, and if it is not authorized the system sends an outgoing message over a network link indicating that the incoming message was not displayed or processed in the normal manner.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a Java stack with an additional Secure Real-time Executive (SRE) layer.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a multiprocessor system that runs multiple Java Virtual Machines that each include a SRE.

FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram of the managers in the SRE.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of how the SRE manages a multiprocessor system.

FIG. 5 is a bock diagram showing how a task manager in the SRE operates the multiprocessor system in a lock-step mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A Java application stack includes a Java layer 5 for running any one of multiple different applications. In one example, the applications are related to different vehicle operations such as Infrared (IR) and radar sensor control and monitoring, vehicle brake control, vehicle audio and video control, environmental control, driver assistance control, etc.

A Java Virtual Machine (JVM) layer 16 provides the hardware independent platform for running the Java applications 5. A Jini layer 12 provides some limited security for the Java applications that run on different machines. However, the Jini layer 12 does not provide the necessary reconfiguration and security management necessary for a distributed real-time multiprocessor system.

A Secure Real-time Executive (SRE) 14 provides an extension to the JVM 16 and allows Java to run on different processors for real-time applications. The SRE 20 manages messaging, security, critical data, file I/O multiprocessor task control and watchdog tasks in the Java environment as described below. The JVM 16, Jini 12 and SRE 14 can all be implemented in the same JVM 10, However, for explanation purposes, the JVM 10 and the SRE 14 will be shown as separate elements.

FIG. 2 shows a system 15 that includes multiple processors 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24. Each processor includes one or more JVMs 10 that run different Java applications. For example, processor 16 includes one Java application 28 that controls a vehicle security system and another Java application 26 that controls the vehicles antilock brakes. A processor 18 includes a Java application 30 that controls audio sources in the vehicle. Other processors 20 and 22 may run different threads 32A and 32B for the same sensor fusion Java application 32 that monitors different IR sensors. Another thread 32C on processor 24 monitors a radar sensor for the sensor fusion Java application 32.

The SRE 14 runs below the JVMs 10 in each processor and control tasks, messaging, security, etc. For example, the Java application 26 controls vehicle braking according to the sensor data collected by the sensor fusion Java application 32. The SRE 14 in one example prevents unauthorized data from being loaded into the processor 16 that runs brake control application 26. The SRE 14 also prevents other Java applications that are allowed to be loaded into processor 16 from disrupting critical braking operations, or taking priority over the braking operations, performed by Java application 26.

For example, the SRE 14 may prevent noncritical vehicle applications, such as audio control, from being loaded onto processor 16. In another example, noncritical operations, such as security control application 28, are allowed to be loaded onto processor 16. However, the SRE 14 assigns the security messages low priority values that will only be processed when there are no braking tasks in application 26 that require processing by processor 16.

The SRE 14 allows any variety of real-time, mission critical, nonreal-time and nonmission critical Java applications to be loaded onto the multiprocessor system 15. The SRE 14 then automatically manages the different types of applications and messages to ensure that the critical vehicle applications are not corrupted and processed with the necessary priority. The SRE 14 is secure software that cannot be manipulated by other Java applications.

The SRE 14 provides priority preemption on a message scale across the entire system 15 and priority preemption on a task scale across the entire system 15. So the SRE 14 controls how the JVMs 10 talk to each other and controls how the JVMs 10 are started or initiated to perform tasks. The SRE 14 allows programmers to write applications using Java in a safe and secure real time environment. Thus, viruses can be prevented by SRE 14 from infiltrating the system 15.

While the explanation uses Java as one example of a programming environment where SRE 14 can be implemented, it should be understood that the SRE 14 can be integrated into any variety of different programming environments that may run in the same or different systems 15. For example, SRE 14 can be integrated into an Application Programmers Interface (API) for use with any programming language such as C++.

FIG. 3 shows the different functions that are performed by the SRE 20. Any combination of the functions described below can be provided in the SRE 20. A message manager 50 controls the order messages are received and transmitted by the different Java applications. A security manager 52 controls what data and messages are allowed to be received or transmitted by different Java applications. A critical data manager 54 controls what data is archived by the different Java applications.

A data manager 56 controls what data is allowed to be transferred between different processors. A task manager 58 controls the order tasks are performed by the different JVMs. A reconfiguration manager 60 monitors the operation of the different processors in the system and reassigns or reconfigures Java applications and Java threads to different processors according to what processors have failed or what new processors and applications have been configured into system 15.

The message manager 50 partially corresponds to the priority manager 44 shown in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,033, issued Sept.30, 2003, the critical data manager 52 partially corresponds with the logging manager 44 shown in FIG. 2 of the '033 patent, and the security manger 54 a least partially corresponds with the security manager 40 shown in the '033 patent. The data manager 56 at least partially corresponds with the data manager 42 shown in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,146,260, the task manager 58 partially corresponds to the device manger 46 shown in FIG. 2 of the '260 patent, and the configuration manager 60 at least partially corresponds to the configuration manager 44 shown in FIG. 2 of the '260 patent. The descriptions of how the different managers 50-60 operate similarly to the corresponding managers in the '033 and '260 patents are herein incorporated by reference and are therefore not described in further detail.

However, some specific tasks performed by the managers 50-60 are described below in further detail.

FIG. 4 shows in more detail how the SRE 14 operates. One of the operations performed by the task manager 58 is to control when different tasks are initiated on different processors. For example, a first Global Positioning System (GPS) thread 62 is running on a JVM in a processor 80. Another sensor fusion thread 64 is running on a different processor 82. Block 74 represents the Java Virtual Machine operating in each of processors 80 and 82. A master JVM 74 may run on either processor 80, processor 82 or on some other processor.

The task manager 58 sends an initiation command 66 to the GPS thread 62 to obtain location data. The task manager 58 then directs the obtained GPS data 68 through a link to the sensor fusion thread 64 for subsequent processing of GPS data 68. The link may be any bus, such as a PCI bus, serial link such as a Universal Serial Bus, a wireless link such as blue tooth or IEEE 802.11, or a network link such as Ethernet, etc.

The configuration manager 60 acts as a watchdog to make sure that the GPS thread 62 and the sensor fusion thread 64 are each running correctly. In one example, separate configuration managers 60 in each processor 80 and 82 sends out periodic signals to the other configuration managers 60 in the other processors. Any one of the configuration managers 60 can detect a processor or application failure by not receiving the periodic “ok” signals from any one of the other processors for some period of time. If a failure is detected, then a particular master configuration manager 60 in one of the processors determines where the task in the failed processor is going to be reloaded. If the master configuration manager 60 dies, then some conventional priority scheme, such as round robin, is used to select another configuration master.

If a failure is detected, say in the processor 82 that is currently performing the sensor fusion thread 64, a message is sent from the configuration manager 60 notifying the task manager 58 which processor is reassigned the sensor fusion thread. In this example, another sensor fusion thread 76 in processor 84 is configured by the configuration manager 60.

The critical data manager 52 manages the retention of any critical data 72 that was previously generated by the sensor fusion thread 64. For example, the critical data manager 54 automatically stores certain data and state information that was currently, being used in the sensor fusion thread 64. The critical data may include GPS readings for the last 10 minutes, sensor data obtained from sensors in other processors in the vehicle over the last 10 minutes. The critical data may also include any processed data generated by the sensor fusion thread 64 that identifies any critical vehicle conditions.

The critical data manager 52 also determines which data to archive generally for vehicle maintenance and accident reconstruction purposes.

The configuration manager 60 directs the critical data 72 to the new sensor fusion thread 76. The task manager 74 then redirects any new GPS data obtained by the GPS thread 78 to the new sensor fusion thread 76 and controls sensor fusion tasks from application 76. Thus, the configuration manager 60 and the task manager 58 dynamically control how different Java threads are initialized, distributed and activated on different processors.

The message manager 50 determines the priority of sent and received messages. If the data transmitted and received by the sensor fusion thread 76 is higher priority than other data transmitted and received on the processor 84, then the sensor fusion data will be given priority over the other data. The task manager 58 controls the priority that the sensor fusion thread 76 is giving by processor 84. If the sensor fusion thread 76 has higher priority than, for example, an audio application that is also being run by processor 84, then the sensor fusion thread 76 will be performed before the audio application.

The SRE 14 can be implemented in any system that needs to be operated in a secure environment. For example, network servers or multiprocessors operating in a home environment. The multiprocessors in home appliances, such as washer and dryers, home computers, home security systems, home heating systems, can be networked together and operate Java applications. The SRE 14 prevents these multiple processors and the software that controls these processors from being corrupted by unauthorized software and also allows the applications on these different processors to operate as one integrated system.

The SRE 14 is a controlled trusted computing based that is not accessible by non-authorized application programmers and anyone in the general public. Therefore, the SRE 14 prevents hacking or unauthorized control and access to the processors in the vehicle.

Task Controlled Applications

Debugging is a problem with multiprocessor systems. The task manager 58 allows the Java applications to be run in a lock-step mode to more effectively identify problems in the multiprocessor system 15.

FIG. 5 shows a path 90 taken by a vehicle 92. In one application, the position of the vehicle 92 is sampled every second t.sub.1, t.sub.2, t.sub.3, t.sub.4, etc. The position of the vehicle 92 is sampled by a GPS receiver in vehicle 92 that reads a longitudinal and latitudinal position from a GPS satellite. The GPS receiver is controlled by the GPS thread 62 that receives the GPS data and then sends the GPS data to a sensor fusion thread 64 that may run on the same or a different processor in the vehicle 92. The sensor fusion thread 64 can perform any one of many different tasks based on the GPS data. For example, the sensor fusion thread 64 may update a map that is currently being displayed to the driver of vehicle 92 or generate a warning signal to the vehicle driver.

For each sample period t.sub.N, the task manager 58 sends a request 94 to the GPS thread 62 to obtain GPS data. The task manager 58 uses a clock 96 as a reference for identifying each one second sample period. Each time a second passes according to clock 96, the task manager 58 sends out the request 94 that wakes up the GPS thread 62 to go read the GPS data from the GPS satellite. Once the GPS data has been received, the GPS thread 62 passes the UPS data 96 to the sensor fusion thread 64. The GPS thread 62 then goes back into an idle mode until it receives another activation command from the task manager 58.

The task manager 58 can control when the GPS thread 62 is woken up. Instead of the GPS thread 62 being free running, the GPS thread 62 is operating according to a perceived time controlled by the task manager 58. The task manager 58 may send the activation request 94 to the GPS thread 62 once every second during normal sensor fusion operation. When the system is in a debug mode, however, the task manager 58 may only send one activation command 94. This allows the other operations performed by the system 89 to be monitored and determine how the single sampling of GPS data 96 propagates through system 89. The task manager 58 may also delay or disable task initiation to other threads, so that the processing of the GPS data 96 can be isolated.

The task manager 58 can isolate any state in the overall system 89, such as the state of system 89 after a first GPS reading by GPS thread 62 or the state of system 89 after the thirty second GPS reading by GPS thread 62 by controlling when and how often activation commands 94 are sent to UPS thread 62. In a similar manner, the task manager 58 can control when other tasks are performed by the system 89, such as when the sensor fusion thread 64 is activated.

Thus, the task manager 58 controls when Java applications are activated effectively running the overall system 89 in a lock-step mode. The task manager 58 can control the initiation of multiple tasks at the same time. This allows the task manager to control what parameters and operations are performed and used by the different Java threads so that different states in the multiprocessor system 89 can be detected and monitored more effectively.

One application for the task controlled applications is for accident reconstruction. The critical data manager 52 (FIG. 3) may save different vehicle parameters from a vehicle that has been in an accident. For example, sensor data, brake data, speed data, etc. The task manager 58 can feed the saved data into the different Java applications in a lock-step mode to determine how each Java thread processes the saved data. This can then be used to identify any failures that may have occurred in the system 89.

The system described above can use dedicated processor systems, micro controllers, programmable logic devices, or microprocessors that perform some or all of the communication operations. Some of the operations described above may be implemented in software and other operations may be implemented in hardware.

For the sake of convenience, the operations are described as various interconnected functional blocks or distinct software modules. This is not necessary, however, and there may be cases where these functional blocks or modules are equivalently aggregated into a single logic device, program or operation with unclear boundaries. In any event, the functional blocks and software modules or described features can be implemented by themselves, or in combination with other operations in either hardware or software.

Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the invention may be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. Claim is made to all modifications and variation coming within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

1. A message control system for a portable device, comprising: a processing system having a communications link to a packet switched network, wherein the processing system comprises one or more processors; a display processor; an integrated display screen; one or more integrated sensors configured to generate at least one of time data, and position data, wherein the position data is sampled at regular time intervals, wherein the change in position over time generates speed data, and wherein the change in speed data over time generates acceleration data; a message manager configured to: log when and where messages are sent and received, receive an incoming message over the communications link for use by a local application, monitor at least one of time data, position data, speed data, and acceleration data of the portable device based on the data generated by the one or more sensors, use the at least one of time data, position data, speed data, and acceleration data of the portable device to identify the incoming message as authorized or unauthorized, responsive to the incoming message being identified as authorized, use the display processor to display the incoming message on the integrated display of the portable device, and responsive to the incoming message being identified as unauthorized, send an outgoing message over the communication link indicating that the incoming message is unauthorized.
 2. The message control system according to claim 1, wherein the message manager determines message priority and controls the order in which messages are processed according to the determined priority.
 3. The message control system according to claim 1, wherein the portable device is a cellular telephone.
 5. The message control system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of time data, speed data, and position data are generated by a GPS system.
 6. The message control system according to claim 1, wherein the outgoing message is at least one of speed data and position data.
 7. The message control system according to claim 1, wherein the outgoing message is the logged message data.
 8. The message control system according to claim 1, wherein the incoming message is at least one of text, video or image.
 9. A method of controlling messages in a portable device, comprising: operating a processor system having a communications link to a packet switched network, wherein the processor system comprises one or more processors; operating a display processor with an integrated display screen; operating one or more integrated sensors configured to generate at least one of time data, speed data, and position data; operating a message manager configured to: log when and where messages are sent and received, receive an incoming message over the communications link for use by a local application, monitor at least one of time, position, speed and acceleration data of the portable device, of the portable device based on the data generated by the one or more sensors, use the at least one of time, position, speed and acceleration data of the portable device to identify the incoming message as authorized or unauthorized, responsive to the incoming message being identified as authorized, use the display processor to display the incoming message on the integrated display of the portable device, and responsive to the incoming message being identified as unauthorized, send an outgoing message over the communication link indicating that the incoming message is unauthorized,
 10. The method of controlling messages according to claim 9, wherein the message manager determines message priority and controls the order in which messages are processed according to the determined priority.
 11. The method of controlling messages according to claim 9, wherein the portable device is a cellular telephone.
 13. The method of controlling messages according to claim 9, wherein the at least one of time data, speed data, and position data are generated by a GPS sensor.
 14. The method of controlling messages according to claim 9, wherein the outgoing message is at least one of speed data and position data.
 15. The method of controlling messages according to claim 9, wherein the outgoing message is the logged message data.
 16. The method of controlling messages according to claim 9, wherein the incoming message is at least one of text, video or image. 